SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 34
(By Senators Helmick, Fanning, Rowe, Ross, Sharpe, Love, Jenkins,
White, Caldwell, Kessler, Plymale, Bowman, Prezioso, Dempsey,
Facemyer, Oliverio, Hunter, Harrison, Minear, McKenzie, Unger,
Minard, McCabe, Chafin, Edgell and Tomblin, Mr. President)
Designating Cass Scenic Railroad State Park's Shay No. 5 steam
locomotive as the official state steam locomotive of West
Virginia and 2005 as the "Year of the Shay No. 5".
Whereas, The Shay No. 5 steam locomotive is the oldest
operating steam locomotive in West Virginia; and
Whereas, The Shay No. 5 steam locomotive was originally built
in November, 1905, for the Greenbrier and Elk River Railroad by the
Lima Locomotive Works of Lima, Ohio; and
Whereas, The Shay No. 5 steam locomotive has served the town
of Cass since it was brought into service nearly 100 years ago; and
Whereas, The Shay No. 5 steam locomotive has been owned by the
West Virginia Spruce Lumber Company, a subsidiary of the West
Virginia Pulp & Paper Company, and the Mower Lumber Company; and
Whereas, Just as the steam locomotive revolutionized timbering
operations in the Allegheny forests in the last century by
replacing work animals and flood-borne logging operations, it was
replaced by newer and more efficient technologies; and
Whereas, On any morning as the sun breaks through the fog in
the rugged mountains of Pocahontas County, visitors to Cass are
swept back in time when they hear the sounds, whistles and gears of
this majestic steam locomotive as the crew prepares the old Shay
No. 5 for another journey; and
Whereas, The Shay No. 5 steam locomotive is an important
historical artifact and a wonderfully preserved example of the
technology of the early twentieth century; and
Whereas, Designating the Shay No. 5 steam locomotive as the
official steam locomotive of West Virginia is a tribute to the
history of timbering in this state and the expertise and dedication
of the people who built, operated, maintained and preserved the
Shay No. 5 steam locomotive for our generation; therefore, be it
Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That the Legislature hereby designates Cass Scenic Railroad
State Park's Shay No. 5 steam locomotive as the official state
steam locomotive of West Virginia and 2005 as the "Year of the Shay
No. 5".
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